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Brazil awards OPEC Secretary-General Kuwaiti Haitham Al-Ghais one of the highest presidential honors (Rio Branco Order of Merit) for his efforts in the energy sector and international cooperation.

21-10-2023

The Brazilian government on Wednesday awarded a high presidential medal to the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al-Ghais, in appreciation of his distinguished efforts in the energy sector and international cooperation. OPEC said in a statement that Al-Ghais received the Order of Merit (Rio Branco), one of the highest Brazilian presidential honors, during his reception by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in the capital, Brasilia, on his first visit to Brazil. According to the statement, the Brazilian Foreign Minister praised the great efforts made by Al-Ghais to consolidate cooperation between the organization and oil-exporting countries outside it with the aim of ensuring the stability of global oil markets. For his part, Al-Ghais confirmed in a phone call with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that this honor gives him a strong motivation to continue his work in serving the organization, expressing his appreciation and thanks to the political leadership and the government of Brazil for this honor. Al-Ghais presented this medal to the State of Kuwait, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He stressed that this honor is a continuation of the path of excellence and success that the Kuwaiti people have known for, noting that the medal is also a tribute to OPEC as a whole, starting with the member states and employees of the General Secretariat in Vienna, for the efforts they are making to support the stability of global oil markets. The Rio Branco Medal is one of Brazil's most important national medals, as the Brazilian President is considered the largest owner of it and grants it through a presidential decree to its deserving recipients.